Felting-machine.



G. GALVI.

FELTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.11, 190s.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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G. GALVI.

FELTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 11, 1908.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

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G; GALVI.

FELTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION TILED DEG. 11, 190B.

* 1,069,50, Patented Aug. 12; 1913.

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G. GALVI.

FELTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1750.11; 1903.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PMNouRAPH cm, WASHINETON, n. c.

G. GALVI.

PELTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.11, 1903.

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Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

G. GALVI.

PELTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 11, 190B.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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G. CALVI.

FELTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.11, 190s Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PIANOURAPH CONWASHINUTON, u, c.

' r I earn j GIUSEPPE CALVI, OF ALESSANDRIA, ITALY, ASSIGNOR TOBORSALINO GIUSEPPE & FRATELLO-SOCIETA ANONIMA, OF ALESSANDRIA, ITALY, ACORPORATION OF lTALY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

FIELTING-MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, Grnsnrrn GALVI, mechanic, subject of the King ofItaly, residing at No. 2 Via Argui, rilessandria, in the Kingdom ofItaly, have invented new and useful .Improvements in or Relating toFelting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the improvements forming the subject of this invention isto make the working of. felting machines more economical and uniform asregards the consumption of hairs aswell as the consumption of power.

In order to explain more clearly what these improvements consist in, itis advisable to consider the method of working of felting machinesgenerally. The felting machine is generally attendedto by threeoperators two of whom work in front of the machine near the doorsa;(Figure 4) for removing and replacing the conez, and the third stands onthefioor F (Fig. 5*) within reach of an endless band which can bestarted and stopped by means of a handle 0 (Figs. 3, 5 and 5 The thirdoperator has to distribute a certain quantity of hairs upon the endlessband. for felting the hat, and also to regulate their fall into thechamber Q, (Fig. 4) after the first operator has introduced into it .thecone provided with very fine holes, to which the hairs have to adhere.Then the cone is covered with the desired quantity of hairs, the firstoperator opens the doors a (Fig. 4:), allows a shower of water to fallon the felting, operates with his foot the Valve N (Fig. i), for thepurpose of reducingthe quantity of air passing through the cone, and ofavoiding excessively quick evaporation of water, and finally withdrawsthe cone from the chamber Q. replacing it by another cone preparedbeforehand. It will be readily understood that thethird operator musttake care that the hairs do not begin to fall into the chamber Q beforethe, form or cone 2 has been introducedinto it, for otherwise aconsiderable quantity of hairs would be drawn in by the fan V (Fig. ,5)and projected outside, and obviously the material that would be lost,would be the finest and lightest. The two operations, (introducing hairsinto the chamber and inserting the cone in place) ought to take place atthe same moment.

In ordinary felting machines the fan V (Fig. 5) works with throttledsuction when the form or cone 2 covered by the felting is in the chamberQ, and with full suction when the cone is removed. Obviously in thelatter case, the quantity of air used is enormously greater than thatwhen air is forced to pass through the felting. This increase of thequantity of air brings about an increase of the power absorbed which isconsiderable, sometimes amounting to 7 H. P. and it might bring aboutthe slipping of the driving belt. There is, therefore, both irregularityin working and waste of power. These disadvantages as well as thosementioned before, are obviated by the adoption of the devices formingthe subject matter of this invention, the application of which tofelting machines is illustrated in the ac companying' drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 show respectively in horizontal section and side elevationa regulating device applied to the felting machine in accordance withthis invention. Fig. 3 is'a plan of the driving parts of the machine.Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the end of the machine and Figs. if and 5together make a side elevation of the whole of the same machine, andFig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 2 on a smaller scale; Figs. 6 and 6" are alateral section on line 0-1) of Figs. 7 and 7 and Figs. 7 and 7*together make a horizontal section of line A-B of Figs. 6 and 6 ofanother construction of the felting machine according to this invention.Fig. 8 being a detail View of Fig. 7.

According to this invention, the felting machine is provided with aregulator or governor R (see Fig. 5 sectional plan Fig.

1 and side elevation Fig. 2) operating a butterfly valve I arranged inthe suction iipe of the fan V. It is obvious that the shape of theclosing part can be any desired, for instance instead of a butterflyvalve a single or double sluice valve, a series of pivoted blades, etc,could be used.

In the construction illustrated in the drawing, the casing of theregulator R contains the spindle '13 carrying a worm (Fig. 1) engagingwith a toothed sector A, on the spindle of rotation of which is mountedthe valve I. The bearingbracket C (Figs. 1 and 2) provided with asuitable means of adjustment, is capable of oscillating aboutthe pivotP, so as to enable the spindle B to pass from the position of engagementto the position in which the worm is entirely disengaged from the sectorA. Theother end of the spindle B runs in a bearing D. A lever G securedto the pivoted bearing bracket C and capable of rotating with the sameabout the pivot P, occupies the position shown when the worm spindle Bis in the engaged position. hen it passes into the position G (see Figs.5 and 1) destroying the engagement between the worm and the toothedsector, it carries with it also the bearing D by means of the pivot Sand moving it along in the guide 1 N. The movement in question, however,does not prevent the spindle B from continuing to rotate. The engagementand the disengagement are controlled by the rod T (Figs. 5 5 whichcauses the lever G to pass from the position shown to the position GrFig. 5 and vice-versa, and consequently the sector A from the engagedposition to the po sition of rest, or vice versa.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the butterfly valve is completely closing the suctionpipe 20 of the fan V while in Figs. 5 and 5" it leaves the said pipecompletely open.

When it is desired to pass from the position of closing (as in Fig. 2)to that of opening (as inFigs. 5 and 5 it is sufficient to move the rodT, so as to bring the lever from G to G. The spindle B which iscontinuously rotating then drives the sector A by means of the worm, soas to bring the point a to (0 In that position the central plane of thevalve is arranged along Z2 6 and remains in the open position becausethe last tooth on the segment will then remain in mesh with the righthand end of the worm thread. If is it desired I to bring the valve Iback to its original position, it is suflicient to shift the rod T toposition G The sector is then disengaged and under the action of theweight y (Figs. 1 and 2) immediately returns to its original or closingposition.

Each time the operator replaces the form or cone in the chamber Q, hemust open and close the doors m. In closing the doors he makes twoimportant operations. hen he closes the doors one of the latter operatesa lever 64 c pivoted about Z) (Fig. 5 by means of a link Q abuttingagainst the back of the door and forces it to pass from the position a cto the position a 0. The said lever being connected with the rod T bymeans of a link T forces it to move forward in the direction of thearrow, causing the lever G to move into the position shown in Fig. 1,the result of which is to bring the worm B into engagement with thesector A, and thus bring the valve I into the open position. But at thesame time another important movement takes place. The rod T (Figs. 5 and5 is provided with a tooth Z which on moving into the position indicatedin Fig. 53*, operates the stop or tappet D of the lever (Z which thenmoves from the position a n into the position 6 n Owing to the saidmovement the slide bar hinged to (Z at e is pulled downwardly when itstop end drops to il The handleO (Fig.3) which the attendant shifted overto O and which was held in that position by the slide bar h (Fig. 5),can return to the position 0 under the action of the spring V (Fig. 3)thereby starting the conveyer. The eye, at 6, must have a certain playaround the journal so as not to interfere with the rectilinear movementof the slide bar it, guided by the pins f, when the lever (Z isoscillated around its center. In that way, the movement in thedirectioon of the arrows Figs. 5a 5 of the endless band K takes placeimmediately after the closing of the doors :0 (Fig. 5

The time taken by the valve of the regulator or governor R forcompletely opening the valve I can be regulated by modifying the speedof rotation of the spindle B, and in that way a valve I couldbecompletely opened exactly at the moment when the workman sprinkles thefelting form, that is to say at the moment when the maximum suction isrequired.

In the machines hitherto used, when the workman has sprinkled the feltand wants to withdraw the cone in order to put in another one, he has toopen the valve N with his foot (Fig. 4L) for the purpose of reducing thepassage of air through the felting. According to this invention, on thecontrary, the workman has at that moment merely to exercise a pressurewith his foot on pedal u (Fig. 4), for in that case the valve I isautomatically closed, as the pedal u, during its descent, draws down thepart E (Fig. 5 out of the recess 1" releasing the rod T. The latter,under the influence of the action of the spring m (Fig. 5 comes back andbrings the lever G to the position G (Figs. 5" and 5) and disengages theworm B from the sector A (Fig. 1) which results in the valve I beingbrought back to the closing position (Figs. 1 and 2) under the influenceof the action of the balance weight g Upon the door as being closed(Fig. 5 the valve is opened again, and-the endless band restarted.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 6 6 7 7 the first two ofwhich relates to the position in which the valve I is open and the lasttwo to that in which it is closed, the method of controlling the rod Tis different. The spindle G (Fig. 7 is driven by the pulleys F E withcontinu ous rotation and it carries a clutch II. This clutch is in adisengaged position when the lever cZ pivoted at c is in the positionshown in Figs. 6 and 6 which show it with its end 0 engaging with themember R of the tie rod t t fulcrumed at 0 to lever f The result of thisis .that the lever f" pivoted at b" is held in the open position. Inthat position,:the arm (P-ofthe lever .f opens the clutch and thespindle 4G is rotating idly and no movement is transmitted to the rod T.clutch H is again brought into engagement.

Thepinion is rotated and drives the tooth rack Z secured to the rod TThe latter moves forward in the direction of thearrow,

sliding on rollers i and acts in its turn by means of the .tooth rack Bon the sector A which brings the valve 1 from the closed position intothe .open position. As soon as the valve I hasicome .into theopenposition, the rod T must be stopped. In order to accomplish this, whenthe rod T .arrives at the end of its travel, an arm N secured to the rodT strikes lever f" and thus throws out of gear the clutch H. The saidmovement of the lever f forces the tie rod 25 t to move forward (in thedirection of the arrow) which results in the end 0 of the lever d cominginto engagement again with the member R which resumes its stoppingposition.

The closing of the valve must take place as described with reference toFigs. 1 to 5 when the workman, after having sprinkled the felting,wishes to prevent excessively quick evaporation. In the constructionshown in Figs 6 and 7 the object in question is attained in thefollowing manner: The workman depresses with his foot the pedal 2 which,by means of the lever L pivoted about V raises the arm U which is inengagement with the tooth S with which the rod T (Fig. 8) is provided.The rod T is then free to follow the action of the spring of andreturns, that is to say, moves in the direction opposite to that of thearrow, the result of which is to turn the sector A and to bring thevalve I into its closing position.

I claim:

1. The combination with a felting machine having a suction chamber, aconveyer, a cone mounted within the suction chamber and a valvecontrolling the suction within the chamber, a gearing means foractuating said valve comprising a driving gear, a driven gear and aweight; means for constantly rotating the driving gear, a device foreffecting engagement and disengagement of said valve gearing, separatemembers for operating said device for effecting engagement anddisengagement of said gears, said members .belng each manually actuated.

2. The combination with a felting ma- .chine having a suction chamber,.a cone mounted within the suction chamber, a fine leading from saidchamber, a vvalve in the flue, and .means for creating suction in saldflue, and a conveyer for simultaneously delivering material to the cone;of a valve actuating mechanism comprising a driven gear .mounted .on the.valve shaft,a driving gear adapted .to mesh with said driven gear andalso adapted to be constantly rotated through the medium of the materialcon- .veyer mechanism, and a weight connected with said driven .gearadapted to .act 1n opposition to said driving gear; a .device .foreffecting engagement and disengagement of said valve actuating gears,.whereby to open and to close the valve, and separate members foroperating the device in effecting engagement and disengagement, saidmembers being each manually actuated.

3. The combination with a felting machine hav ng a suction chamber, .acone mounted within the suction chamber, and a door for said chamber, aflue leading therefrom, a valve in said flue and operative connectionsfor said valve, a conveyer for delivering material to the cone, andmeans for creating air suction within said flue, of a lever mechanismconnected with said door and adapted to open said valve within saidchamber on the closing of said door, intermediate gearing between saidmechanism and said conveyer whereby said conveyer is started on saidintermediate gearing being actuated by said mechanism simultaneouslywith the starting of the air suction in said chamber.

4. The combination with a felting machine having a suction chamber, acone mounted within the suction chamber and a closure for said chamber,a fine leading from said chamber, a valve in said flue, a conveyer fordelivering material to said cone, and means for creating air suctionwithin said flue; of a controlling mechanism comprising a lever adaptedto effect the starting and stopping of the conveyer, a slide rod adaptedto engage said lever and to hold it in open position, a reciprocatingbar adapted to engage with and actuate the slide rod and a valveoperating mechanism; said reciprocating bar adapted to actuate saidvalve through said mechanism.

5. The combination with a felting machine having a suction chamber, acone mounted within the suction chamber and a closure for said chamber,a flue leading from said chamber, a valve in said flue, a conveyer fordelivering material to said cone, and means for creating air suctionwithin said flue; of a controlling mechanism, comprising a lever adaptedto effect the starting and stopping of the conveyer, a slide rod adaptedto engage said lever and to hold it in open position, a reciprocatingbar adapted to engage with and actuate said slide rod, and also toactuate said valve in said flue by means of a connecting mecha nism,separate means for Withholding and actuating said reciprocating bar toclose the valve, and a lever mechanism operatable upon the closing ofsaid door for actuating said reciprocating bar to open the valve and torelease the conveyer controlling lever.

6. The combination with a felting machine having a suction chamber, acone mounted Within the suction chamber and a closure for said chamber,a flue leading from said chamber, a valve in said flue, a conveyer fordelivering material to said cone, and means for creating air suctionWithin said flue; of common driving means for said valve and saidconveyer, a clutch for said conveyer and a connecting device for saidvalve, a controlling mechanism, comprising a hand lever for said clutch,a spring f01\ actuating said hand lever, a vertical slid rod adapted tohold said lever 1n open position, an oscillating arm hinged to saidslide ciprocating bar; a treadle mechanism adapted to retain saidreciprocating bar in one po sition whereby, on the closing of said door,said controlling mechanism Will simultaneously open said valve in saidflue and start said conveyer, and whereby in operating said treadlemechanism When said door is open, the air suction in the flue will becut off, and by turning said hand lever the conveyer Will be stopped.

Signed at Turin, Italy, this 12th day of November 1908.

GIUSEPPE CALVI. WVitnesses GovEzI-I FRANCISCO, ARNALDO ZEPPEYNO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

